Miner Mania Turns Into Major Disappointment For UTEP Fans

UTEP Miners fans said the football team’s loss against the BYU Cougars at Saturday’s New Mexico was tough to sit through. Some local bars emptied out before the game was even over.

Bowl games are few and far between for UTEP.This was their first shot at a bowl trophy in five years and the university hasn’t won a bowl game since 1967.

At King’s X bar on the west side, Miners spirit was in full swing shortly after kick-off. “It’s really good to see them in a bowl game,” Nicole Ramos told ABC-7. Ramos is a UTEP student and came out in support of her hometown team. “They don’t get enough support,” she said.

That seemed to be the case at another nearby bar, the Brew Bar and Grill. Bar staff told ABC-7 the place had been packed with fans earlier in the day, but emptied out once BYU started scoring big points against UTEP.

“It just died down. A lot of people started closing out their tabs and then people would kind of trickle in, see the score, eat and leave,” said Jennifer Rowdee, a server at the restaurant.

Still, some loyal fans stuck around past half-time. They said their love for the miners was unconditional. “I’ll be back here next time,” said one fan. “I’m a big supporter, win or lose.”